Walmart Greeter w/ PhD...aka...Portland unemployment (Phoenix: construction, living in)

[subsound]

The loss of income like that, and the independence as well as self worth can be devastating. In not knowing where things are going to come from it's really hard when you're using up your resources (for living expenses and COBRA). I've been through it, and though I can't say I would think it's worse then loosing a parent, but it's up there.

[LeftCoastee]

The latest numbers were released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Unemployment Rates for Metropolitan Areas

The Portland Metro area's unemployment rate is 10.7%. While this has gotten worse, as all areas have, many other metro areas have jumped ahead.

Porltand Metro area is ranked 292nd out of 372 metro areas. The top 14 metro areas are over 15% (Bend, OR is one of them).

The US Dept. of Labor uses population sampling to determine the unemployment rates, not filings for unemployment benefits.

[argo69]

So, I reduced that list to just most of the major cities and Portland comes out as having the #1 highest unemployment...yikes!

10.7 Portland
10.2 LA
9.3 Atlanta
9.2 Chicago
8.8 SF
8.7 Seattle
8.2 NYC
7.4 Boston
6.3 Austin

[LeftCoastee]

...and thats a completely arbitrary statement.

You've missed two metro areas that are about twice the size of the Portland Metro area.

Riverside (4.08M people) - 12.2%
Detroit (4.47M people) - 13.6%

Portland is #3 in unemployment by size. But I'm not sure what the size of a city has to do with the percentage of unemployed people.

[Brandon26pdx]

I agree, Detroit would have to be the worst "major city" in the country by far for employment. You can buy condo units there for the price of an inexpensive used car for christsakes. It's truly a has-been of a city left for dead.

Riverside country...most people would consider that an extension of the greater Los Angeles area. Hard to say why Los Angeles has been hit the way it has...probably a lot of out of work financial sector employees and building contractors/construction workers hogging a disproportionate amount of the unemployment limelight

[subsound]

Portland has one thing going for it Detroit does not, it has hope at least that the future might be better.

[bradical32]

Hello all,

I'm just here for some honest answers. Hopefully, that's what I will get. I currently reside in Arizona and am considering a move to Portland. I don't really dislike it here but, it's really not for me. The weather is fantastic and the hot summers really don't bother me. But, and there always is a but, I find the culture and diversity extremely lacking. I came out her on the encouragement of a relative who at this point in their life were looking for much different things than myself. I had lived on the est coast for the past 20 years in NYC and Washington DC. Now my question and I know nowhere is gonna compare to NYC but, the cultural, ethnic and professional diversity is important to me. I need that vibe. Does Portland offer that??The weather is not really a big deal that's why they have planes, trains and automobiles LOL. Any feedback woulod be most appreciated.

[Rob Allen]

Culture - yes. Portland is full of creative people doing creative things.

Diversity - not so much. Portland is the whitest big city in the US.

Also, you say that the weather is not a big deal, but you also say that you find the weather in Arizona "fantastic". Be prepared for weather that is very different! Some people don't realize how much it will affect them until they get here.

[Minervah]

Not much ethnic diversity either. But there is plenty to see and do. It pretty much depends upon what your likes and dislikes are. Also "culture" covers a broad spectrum. What are you specifically looking for in that area?

I personally like the overcast days because I don't like sun a lot. But some move here from sunny climates and develop S.A.D. I don't think that's very common though. And then I have to ask because I always do; have you a job lined up? Remember we have a 12.1% unemployment rate.

[Midwest Exile]

Originally Posted by LeftCoastee

I guess my overall point is that people don't need misinformation. They need the truth.

I've observed/sensed the same attitude in the threads, leftcoastee. I've traveled over large areas of Oregon in several trips over the last few years. The anti-California attitude is understandable, considering that so many retiring Californians have flooded into once quaint and beautiful towns with ready cash in hand after selling their Cal homes at enormous profit, to buy Oregon homes, driving up the average cost of homes beyond the reach of native Oregonians entering into the market as they form families. It would **** me off too.

But one can't generalize about Californians. We're not all vacuous capitalists who want to take over Oregon and turn it into California. I've lived in Iowa for years, and must move back to the West coast to regain certain basic "quality of life" requirements. I happen to like Oregon, and California is just not feasable for me. Gee, so sue me.

I do know times have been tough in Oregan for a few years now. One can't blame people for wanting to discourage newcomers, but those of us wanting to move there need to consider the source of the information, and make our own judgements. I just can't live in Siberia for the rest of my life.